Electric contact-rail.



PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907.

- E.W.PARNHAM. ELECTRIC CONTACT, RAIL.

APPLIOATION IILBD JULY 17, 1905.

Wibzekmew. j'firerzzaif' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ED WILSON FARNIIAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE FARNHAM COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA TERRITORY.

ELECTRIC CONTACT-RAIL.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

Application filed July 1'7, 1905. Serial No. 270,138.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ED WILsoN FARNHAM, a citizeii oi the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Contact-Rails, of which the iollowing is a specification.

One of the objects of this invention is the production oi means for greatly increasing the conductivity and capacity of electric third-rails, and at the same time reducing their weight.

Another object oi the invention is the production of means for incasing a wire or cable having a high (:0- eilicient of conductivity (for example, copper) within a bar or rail of material having a greater tensile strength than the wire or cable, and better adapted to withstand the abrasion oi the collector-shoe sliding in contact with it.

The invention further refers to a means for joining together, end to end, the several sections of which such a rail is made up.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a transverse section through a rail embodying the features of my invention, also showing, in side elevation, the means for joining together two sections of the rail and the means for supporting the rail in position beside the traction rails. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section through the adjacent ends of two sections of said thirdrail and the means for connecting said rail-sections together.

In the drawings, 1 refers to a rail embodying my invention, which rail is U-shape in cross-section, the closed, lower end of the U being the contact portion of said rail. The concavity or groove 2 of the rail is adapted to receive and contain the feeder-main or wire 3, said concavity being deep enough to receive the entire wire, which is thus securely supported and protected therein. The cross-sectional form of the rail 1 is such that only the amount of metal necessary to strength and durability is provided, thus making the rail much lighter than those heretofore used. The wire 3 being in intimate contact with the rail throughout the entire length of the latter, improved electrical communication between the rail and its feeder main is obtained, off setting the loss of conductivity due to the small amount of metal in the rail.

Extending outwardly from the upper side edges of the rail are flanges 4 by means of which the rail-sections are united end to end and the rail supported in proper relation to the traction rails.

The abutting ends of two rail-sections are joined together by means of clamping members 5, each of said clamping members having a groove 6 adapted to receive the end portions of the flanges 4 on one side of said abutting rail-ends. Clamping bolts 7 extend through perforated ears 8 on said clamping members, said bolts drawing said members together and rigidly uniting the rail-sections. If desired, a key 9 may be inserted between the bolts 7 and the wire 3 to press said wire into close contact with the rail.

The continuous rail made by joining together a plurality oi rail-sections in the manner just described is supported at suitable intervals in its length upon standards 10, each of said standards having a suitable base (not shown for securing it in place beside the traction rails. Suitable means (not shown in detail in the drawings or claimed in this application) is providedfor connecting the rail with and insulating it from said standards. Cover-boards 11 are secured to the standards 10 and extend along both sides of and above the rail 1.

It is apparent that the cross-sectional form of the rail herein shown may be considerably modified without sacrificing any of the advantages incident to this invention, and that the means for uniting the rail-sections may be changed in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. I therefore desire to have it understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the particular details herein set forth.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric contact-rail of "LT-shape cross-section, the closed end of the U being the contact side of the rail, said rail having means removed from the contact face for supporting the rail with said contact face lowermost.

2. An electric contactrail provided With a contact face on its lower side and a groove in its upper side for containing an electric wire.

S. An electric contact-rail having a contact-face at its lower edge, a supporting flange at each side, and a wirecontaining groove in its upper edge.

4. The combination, with the abutting ends of two '0'- shape contact rails having flanges at the ends of the arms of the U. 01 clamping members adapted to fit over said flanges, and means for securing said clamping members together.

5. The combination, with the abutting ends of two '0'- shape contact rails having outwardly extending flanges at the ends of the arms of the U, of clamping members provided with grooves adapted to receive said flanges, and a bolt for securing said clamping members together.

6. The combination, with the abutting ends of two 'U shape contact rails having outwardly extending flanges at the ends of the arms of the U, of clamping members provided with grooves adapted to receive said flanges, a key adapted to lie between the arms of the U in contact with a conductor therein, and bolts bearing upon said key and securing said clampingmembers together.

ED WILSON FARNHAM.

Witnesses A. W. STRONG, E. W. FARNHAM, Jr. 

